Weather & budget uncertainty push UK retail footfall down 0.8%: BRC

High Streets saw the sharpest drop, declining 1.2 per cent in November compared with a 0.6 per cent rise the previous month. Shopping Centres fell 1.3 per cent, down from October’s 0.9 per cent decline, while Retail Parks proved comparatively resilient, easing 0.4 per cent YoY.

Regional performance remained uneven. Footfall in Northern Ireland rose 2.7 per cent, continuing its recent outperformance. By contrast, Scotland fell 0.3 per cent, Wales dropped 0.4 per cent, and England posted the sharpest decline at 1 per cent, BRC said in a press release.

“Wet weather and the prospect of a tax-rising Budget meant some shoppers held off shopping visits last month. Storm Claudia prompted many consumers to search online for Black Friday deals throughout November, leading some to not visit bricks-and-mortar stores on Black Friday. There was good news in some northern UK cities as Manchester and Sheffield continued to buck the trend, recording positive footfall for the eighth consecutive month,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC.

“With the Golden Quarter in full swing, retailers are continuing to invest what they can to entice customers into stores over Christmas. However, as we approach the New Year, given the downward trend in footfall across recent years, we need a comprehensive strategy to revitalise our high streets and shopping centres, from better transport, affordable parking, to a reformed planning system to enable faster, better development,” added Dickinson.

“November marked the seventh consecutive month of declining footfall. Total UK footfall slipped -0.8 per cent YoY, as Black Friday failed to deliver the expected boost despite early and deep discounting,” said Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic. “The Autumn Budget, landing just days before the event, cast a long shadow over consumer confidence, with leaks and tax rumours fuelling uncertainty.”

“Storm Claudia added insult to injury, knocking shopper numbers back by 11 per cent mid-month, while financial pressures kept discretionary spend firmly in check. High Streets and Shopping Centres bore the brunt, while Retail Parks showed relative resilience. London, however, stood out as a rare bright spot, posting positive growth against the national trend,” added Sumpter.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (SG)